Extenders in Sperm Sexing: Boosting Motility and Viability in Barbados Blackbelly Rams with Coconut Water and Egg Yolk

Khairul Amirul Hazizie Hashim; Asmad Kari; Nur Syuhada  Ahmad Nordin; Mohd Nor Imran Mohd Azman; Mohd Shahmi Hakimi Mazlishah; Connie Fay Komilus; Azman Azid; Enike Dwi Kusumawati; I Wayan Karyasa

doi:10.11113/mjfas.v21n3.4179

Authors

Khairul Amirul Hazizie Hashim School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Asmad Kari School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Nur Syuhada Ahmad Nordin School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Mohd Nor Imran Mohd Azman School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Mohd Shahmi Hakimi Mazlishah Glami Lemi Biotechnology Research Centre, University of Malaya, Mukim Kongkoi, Titi, 71650 Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Connie Fay Komilus School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Azman Azid School of Animal Science, Aquatic Science and Environment, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Besut, 22200, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
Enike Dwi Kusumawati Universitas PGRI Kanjuruhan Malang, Jalan S. Supriadi No.48, Bandungrejosari, Kec. Sukun, Kota Malang, Jawa Timur 65148, Indonesia
I Wayan Karyasa Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Jl. Udayana No.11, Banjar Tegal, Singaraja, Kabupaten Buleleng, Bali 81116, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/mjfas.v21n3.4179

Keywords:

Sperm quality, egg white sedimentation, natural extenders, coconut water, Barbados blackbelly rams.

Abstract

The application of natural extenders like egg yolk and coconut water for sperm sexing in livestock remains underexplored, particularly for species like the Barbados Blackbelly ram. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various extenders in the egg white sedimentation (EWS) approach and their impact on the motility, viability, and morphology of Barbados Blackbelly ram’s sperm. Semen samples were collected from Barbados Blackbelly rams (n=5), and assessed through macroscopic (color, viscosity, volume) and microscopic (motility, progressive motility, viability and morphology) evaluations before and after sexing. The collected semen was then subjected to sexing albumin gradient (two-layer albumin: 10% and 30%) prepared with different extenders: Control (C: tris-based solution), Treatment 1 (T1: boiled mature coconut water), Treatment 2 (T2: fresh mature coconut water), Treatment 3 (T3: boiled young coconut water), Treatment 4 (T4: fresh young coconut water), Treatment 5 (T5: chicken egg yolk), and Treatment 6 (T6: duck egg yolk). Separated X (top of the gradient) and Y sperm (bottom of the gradient) were extracted after 20-minute incubation, then the samples were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for five minutes before they were analyzed. The study demonstrates that natural based extenders, including coconut water and egg yolk, significantly enhance sexed sperm motility, viability, and morphology in Barbados Blackbelly rams across various treatment groups. Treatment groups T3 (young fresh coconut water) and T4 (boiled coconut water) improve sperm motility and velocity due to their rich content of antioxidants, sugars, and electrolytes, while T6 (duck egg yolk) helps stabilize sperm membranes with phospholipids like lecithin and cholesterol. Of the extenders tested, T4 (boiled coconut water) showed the most successful extender tested, produced the most increases in sperm quality, motility, and viability. These extenders offer small-scale farmers an affordable way to increase access to sperm sexing and support sustainable livestock reproduction.

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